CRAZY HEART hurts so good
CRAZY HEART hurts so good
Apr 27
The backdrop of a film can involve so many things– things that might feature on the poster, in the trailer or throughout the interviews that promote the film. I knew little about Scott Cooper’s Crazy Heart going in and that’s the way I prefer to view most films. Once I learned this was an independent film starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Ferrell and Robert Duvall (if you don’t mind) I did my best to stay clear of too many spoilers. I thought it was about a washed-up country music singer trying to survive on the death rattle of his career. I was surprised to find (and glad I hadn’t already learned) that it’s actually about a man and his alcoholism. The washed-up country music singer trying to survive on the death rattle of his career is merely a very fitting and topical backdrop.
I like a good stiff drink now and then (whiskey for me). I hear the hardest part of getting over any addiction is being able to admit you’re addicted. After that, the sailing should get smoother, assuming one is willing to make the effort. I cannot fathom consistently taking my drinking too far, though I can appreciate circumstances which might lead to such a downhill slide. Jeff Bridges convinced me without question that he had a drinking problem. I could smell Bad Blake’s bad breath with every exhale. I felt every twitch and tasted every drop. From the opening act, he lay Bad Blake on the screen for consumption, and consume I did. Sold. Give that man an Oscar.
Of all the performances Jeff Bridges has given, this one is definitely deserving of such an honor (I have a soft spot for The Dude– we all do, right?– but Bad Blake has a lot more soul and life lessons to offer). The Bad Blake character posses many traits Bridges would have drawn from– his own children and family life, his own age and life experiences– all would have played a part in molding the character he flawlessly delivered. Not to mention the occasional night on the town for those morning-after throw-up sequences that had me squirming in my seat. I fucking hate throwing up. I’ll do absolutely anything at any cost to avoid throwing up.
Deserving equal praise for their performances are Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell and Robert Duvall. Each of them didn’t bring anything too typical nor overly outlandish to their performances; just A-game hard work with rewarding results. Gyllenhaal was especially memorable as she emotionally laid it on the line while looking her sultry best. She didn’t break any rules in her performance but that worked in her favor on this occasion; playing young mother Jean as distant and safe actually complemented the character. Whether this was deliberate or not is debatable– but it worked.
My ears are deaf to country music. It all sounds the same to me. That’s just how I’m programmed, though– I understand enough to appreciate that it has a huge following and a welcome place in the music industry, littered with legends and stories of all kinds. Based on Thomas Cobbs’ novel, Crazy Heart‘s story is merely a fragment of the country music scene. I’m thankful the film didn’t try to convert me to country music by trying to sell the genre to me. The songs played out and, even as a non-fan, even when they all sounded similar, I was okay with them. They didn’t interfere with the plot (like a musical might) and didn’t insist on being heard. Unless Bad Blake was on stage playing them live (in which case there’s plenty of other things going on, thanks again to the brilliance of Jeff Bridges) the music played subtly in the background and kept the tone just right. Exactly all it needed to be.
Crazy Heart paced at a steady rate, never once lingering too long without kicking the plot along. It’s a methodical and deliberate pace which complimented the lifestyle of Bad Blake. Director Scott Cooper kept his shots calm and steady and ensured the landscape of Blake’s travel were shared by the audience. His continual wide angles helped enclose the story in, and as the third act approached, he swapped to zoom lenses, bringing me right up to the drama and boxing me in. As the film concluded and Blake found his answers, the film once again opened up to wide blue skies and dusty country rounds. Including such subtle style proved his worth as the right man to direct this film, and it continued into the composition and even blocking of each shot within that style. The film looked remarkably fantastic, especially considering the budget.
With revelation comes success, and with success comes generosity. Crazy Heart‘s conclusion left me feeling comforted that there are still decent people in the world and problems can still heal themselves with time and perseverance. Even if we can’t always get what we want.
Crazy Heart will stick with me for a long time; I have no say in the matter.
Crazy Heart
89/100
